ABSTRACT
Helen Gurley Brown (1922–2012) was an unlikely savior in the magazine business. She had never gone to college, never worked in publishing, and had no management experience. But as Cosmopolitan’s editor from1965 to 1996, Brown led the transformation of a failing title into one of the magazine world’s greatest successes. Under Brown, Cosmopolitan became one of the first magazines to target women’s growing economic and social independence, and to celebrate their sexual autonomy. This study examines Brown’s professional practices and how they contributed to Cosmopolitan’s growth, profitability, and popularity: know your reader, prioritize good writing, and accommodate advertiser and corporate interests.
